4. Kesisme iyi ki varsin Eren; movie review

 

 

KESISME IYI KI VARSIN EREN

Cert TBA

98 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

After the most disappointing year since I began the everyfilm challenge, I have picked up 2022's baton with high ambition.

So, on January 2, Mrs W and I were off to Lee Valley Odeon to watch a much-anticipated Turkish film.

Ozer Feyzioglu retells the story of Eren Bülbül (Rahman Besel) a 15-year-old boy who gained posthumous fame when he was killed by the PKK - a Kurdish militant political organisation and armed guerrilla movement.

His death in 2017 sparked national outrage and the reverberations are still being felt today.

The movie chronicles his short life from his birth to an impoverished family of 13 who live in a ramshackle home on the hills outside Trabzon.

It seemed incredible to us that, in the 21st century, people should be living so near the breadline that children are literally sharing one tiny pencil among five as they do their homework.

I digress. Aside of the educational necessities, there is a daily battle to provide enough food on the table and, by the time he is a teenager, Eren is doing more than his share of bringing in money to make it so.

Nevertheless, he is portrayed as a happy lad who has the same desires for love and success on the football field as many his age.

In parallel, Feyzioglu portrays the story of dedicated army officer, Ferhat Gedik (Ismail Hacioglu) who sepcialises in anti-terrorism intelligence.

He tracks the PKK across Turkey until he is finally posted on a three-month operation on the Black Sea coast.

Gedik prefers to win the war through negotiation but it becomes more and more obvious that his and Eren's paths will cross amid violence.

The outcome of Kesisme iyi ki varsin Eren will be known by almost everyone who sees it because its events are so fresh in Turkish minds.

Therefore, it is especially laudable that Feyzioglu is able to create an almost tangible tension leading into its final stages of a movie which pulls hard on the audience's emotions.

As a quick tip, anyone who doesn't understand the politics of the conflict between Kurds and Turks might want to do a bit of reading beforehand.

This is a movie which is entirely seen through the latter's eyes. Sadly, in war, there is suffering on both sides but films seldom acknowledge that.

Reasons to watch: The telling of a story which still grips Turkey

Reasons to avoid: Repetition of themes

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? At least 5,731 people have been killed in clashes or terror attacks since July 2015 when a two-and-a-half year long ceasefire in the almost four-decade long conflict between Turkish security forces and militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party broke down.

The final word. Rahman Beşel: "When I was told that I was chosen, I was very happy. Eren Bülbül is the hero of all of us. It is a great honour for me to revive his memory." Dizi Doktoro

Share this post